Yost: First quarter analytics all-stars

Travis Yost

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At each quarter of the regular season, I will produce two teams of analytics all-stars. Ultimately, the goal with this mini-series is to capture great player performance. Sometimes, there will be obvious overlap between players with great counting numbers and great underlying numbers. Other times, I’ll include players who I think deserve significantly more attention than they’re receiving. 

FIRST TEAM

L – Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks

I’m always impressed with players well over the age of thirty who are still caving in the opposition with frequency, mostly because the aging process – even for elite hockey talent – makes that an increasingly difficult accomplishment. 

The argument in support of Daniel Sedin is the same as it ever was. He, along with common linemate Henrik Sedin, have again come together to form one of the league’s most dynamic top lines. Vancouver’s scoring 57% of the goals and controlling about 56% of play with the twins on the ice at 5-on-5. They’re doing it the same way they have always done it – Henrik Sedin’s largely the setup guy and distributor in the middle of the ice, and Daniel Sedin’s the shot-generating maniac on the wing. The other team infrequently has the puck when they’re on the ice, and as you might have guessed, it creates situations where scoring against the twins is relatively impossible. 

Unfortunately, there are separate parameters for evaluation here. Daniel Sedin’s compared to other left wingers, and Henrik Sedin’s compared to other centers. So, while performance may be virtually identical and indiscernible away from ‘this guy passes’ and ‘this guy shoots’, Daniel Sedin finds a spot on our team. Henrik Sedin? He’ll have to wait for the mid-season review. 

C – Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins

I think there’s a decent case to be made that Patrice Bergeron’s the second-best player in the world after Sidney Crosby, though guys like Steven Stamkos, Anze Kopitar, and Jonathan Toews are definitely in the mix.

Ten years ago, I don’t know if Bergeron’s evaluated the same way as he is now. It’s a great testament as to why Corsi% can further capture excellent player performance, especially on the defensive side on things. Often times while watching games, we get caught up in the forward (or defenseman) making the diving poke check, or getting off a thunderous hit in the defensive zone. That, certainly, is defense.

But, over thousands and thousands of repetitions, defense is really just about consistently putting yourself in a position where you only need to make the unbelievable play on rare occasion. That’s what Patrice Bergeron does. Over, and over, and over. He’s a relentless forechecker, a player never caught out of his tight position in the neutral zone, and a guy who defends with vigor in the defensive third.

This year’s been virtually identical by Corsi% dominance standards – Boston’s controlling 59% of the 5-on-5 play with Bergeron on the ice, though that number drops to 51% when he’s off. 

This year is different on one front, though – Patrice Bergeron doesn’t have a rock to lean on in Zdeno Chara due to injury. For most Bruins skaters in the past, Chara’s been the guy propping them up. For Patrice Bergeron, that’s really never been the case – in years past, or in 2014-2015.